Friday, July 8, 2005

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Ladies auxiliary holds memorial for Susan Couch

By CAROLYN CARY
ccary@TheCitizenNews.com

The Susan Couch Ladies Auxiliary of the Sharpsburg Sharpshooters Sons of Confederate Veterans held a memorial service for its namesake.

Susan Crawford Hightower Couch was born in 1835, the daughter of William Crawford, who died in 1836, and Sarah “Sally” Henderson, 1809 to 1899.

She first married Simon C. Hightower in Henry County on Aug. 24, 1848 when she was only 13 years old. They had two children, Isaac Hightower, born in 1852 and Sarah E. Hightower, born in 1854.

Simon died in 1857 and she married Dr. William Bartley Couch with whom she had children, Nora Couch, Mattie Couch, Jenny Couch, and Jim Couch. They were married in Griffin 1858.

Dr. Couch entered service during the War Between The States. Family tradition says that during the Union invasion of Georgia in 1864, a Union Cavalry rode up to their home, just north of Mt. Zion Methodist Campground in Spalding County.

She stepped out onto the porch with a rifle and met the enemy. The gun was loaded and she held it aimed at the commanding officer of the company. He ordered her to put the weapon down, saying she would be shot if she made any resistance to the soldiers.

“You may kill me,” she is recorded as saying, “but I will kill the first man of you who moves to dismount his horse.” Evidently the officer decided retreat was the better part of valor, and the men rode on.

She is buried in the Senoia City Cemetery and 38 members of the auxiliary and the SCV laid a wreath at her gravesite. Auxiliary member Ann Poe read a paper commemorating its namesake.

Also on hand was Elna Whitlock Couch, whose late husband, Vance Couch, was a descendant of Susan. Everyone brought a picnic supper and a lawn chair, and the memorial service continued at Miss Elna’s house.

The Sharpsburg Sharpshooters meet each second Monday at the Sharpsburg Baptist Church at 7 p.m. For information call the commander, John Todd, at 770-502-8914.